An administrative hearing is a legal proceeding designed to review a city or county agency decision before an impartial Hearing Officer. Each party to an administrative hearing has a right to present and question witnesses, and to submit or challenge documents regarding the decision.

The Hearing Officer audio tapes the entire hearing; swears in parties, witnesses, and translators; accepts the plea of the appellant; reviews the prima facie case; accepts testimony and evidence from parties and witnesses; renders a decision by upholding or canceling the administrative citation, based on the testimony and evidence submitted.

NCRC provides neutral third party Hearing Officers for a variety of programs and has been doing so since the 1980s.

These Hearing programs include the following:

• Section 8 Rental Assistance—Public Housing and damage claims for the City as well as the County of San Diego Department of Housing and Community Development.

• Department of Planning and Land Use and Department of Public Works—Grading, recycling, and storm water administrative citation appeals.
• City and County—Administrative citation programs. NCRC Hearing Officers conduct Administrative Citation Appeal hearings in accordance with applicable Administrative Procedures and Hearing Officer Handbook guidelines.